Prior to the organization's closure, Shah went on a ten day KindHearts tour - through more than ten cities - with members of Tablighi Jamaat, a Pakistani organization that The New York Times described as a "recruitment" center for Al-Qaeda. The Tablighi members were Junaid Jamshed and Saeed Anwar. During this tour, KindHearts claimed to have raised $1.5 million.

Shah was recently in Pakistan and the Kind Hearts website informs us that : " As announced by Dr. Zulfiqar Ali Shah, KindHearts fully support Pakistan Prime Minister and Pakistani Governments Relief initiatives, Junaid Jumshaid Foundation, Sahara Foundation, Al-Khidmat and other NGOs who are efficient and completely transparent for the accountability of their financial=2 0transactions, their Relief Work and Development projects to alleviate suffering of the survivors of this natural disaster." http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/1680

Since first held in 2003, the convention has become one of North America's high-profile Muslim conferences.

TORONTO — Canadian Muslims are charging their batteries for the "Reviving the Islamic Spirit," a landmark annual convention that draws distinguished Muslim speakers from across the world.

"With an average annual attendance of 15,000 participants, the convention draws a very diverse group of attendees," Nadir Shirazi, the convention's press secretary, told IslamOnline.net.

Thousands of people from all over North America will flock to Toronto on Friday, December 26, for the opening of the three-day annual conference.

The event is organized by a group of young, active Canadian Muslims and is considered the largest Muslim gathering in Canada, echoing the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) convention in the US.

This year's convention, the seventh, is themed "Answering the Call of God's Messenger – Setting Prophetic Priorities for Muslims in the West."

The event will also feature a grand Souk (bazaar), with vendors from all across North America selling and promoting their products and services.

"[It] generates a great deal of economic activity within the city," says Shirazi.

A concert will be held at the end of the conference, featuring international nasheed performers, including famed Pakistani artist Junaid Jamshed and British singer Mesut Kurtis.

The organizers expect a larger turn-out this year as the convention falls during the Christmas holiday in Canada.

Since first held in 2003, the convention has become one of North America's high-profile Muslim conferences.

It has grown from 3,500 attendees in its first year to over 15,000 in 2007, making it the largest Muslim conference in Canada.

Global Citizens

A galaxy of distinguished scholars from around the world will address the attendees.

A galaxy of Muslim scholars from different parts of the world will address the attendees.

They include American Hamza Yusuf, Swiss Tariq Ramadan, Canadian Jamal Badawi, Kuwaiti Tareq Suwaidan, and American Yahya Rhodus.

Ramadan, one of the most renowned Western Muslim scholars, will be launching his new book, Radical Reform – Islamic Ethics and Liberation, during the conference.

Egypt's charismatic speaker and popular televangelist Amr Khaled will tackle in his message to the meeting living "a purpose-driven Islamic life."

"By bringing a diverse range of speakers to Toronto, the world's most diverse city, we hope to build real and meaningful institutions to live together with others and contribute to Canada," Fouzan Khan, the convention's founder and director, told IOL.

Over the years, the convention drew notable Muslim and non-Muslim figures, including famed British journalist Robert Fisk, American rabbi and political activist Michael Lerner and Pakistani politician and cricket legend Imran Khan.

Organizers believe the diversity of the distinguished speakers projects the true image of Muslims, who make up around 1.9 percent of Canada's 32.8 million population.

"Muslims in Canada are global citizens and are more interconnected than ever to humanity around the world," maintains Khan.

A recent survey showed that the overwhelming majority of Muslims are proud to be Canadian, and that they are more educated than the general population.

TORONTO, ONTARIO, MEDIA ADVISORY--(Marketwire - Dec. 25, 2008) - This boxing day, while Canadians line up to catch the best shopping deals, thousands of the GTA's Muslim residents will also be lining up to see an incredible group of speakers and panelists at the 7th annual Reviving the Islamic Spirit Conference (RIS) at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The conference which runs from Dec 26-28 annually draws around 14 000 visitors and hosts a stellar line up of religious and intellectual figures from across the world. This year the conference speaker list includes Amr Khaled (Time Magazine's 13th most influential person in the world), Hamza Yusuf (renowned scholar, part of historic Muslim Christian dialogue with Pope Benedict XVI in the Vatican), Dr. Tariq Ramadan (one of the world's foremost authorities on Muslims in the West), as well as Maher Arar and his wife Monia Mazigh author of the new book "Hope and Despair- My Struggle to Free my Husband".

RIS also brings together a stellar group of Muslim and Non Muslim scholars and intellectuals from around the globe to discuss key themes and pressing issues. Prominent past members include Toronto Mayor David Miller and renowned author Robert Fisk. This year's theme is "Setting Prophetic Priorities for Muslims in the West". Speakers will discuss the future role and needs of Muslim communities in Western Societies as the paradigm of Islam being an Eastern religion has shifted as a result of the millions of Muslims who live in North America and Europe.

"Muslims in Canada are global citizens and are more interconnected than ever to humanity around the world." Says convention founder, Fouzan Khan, "by bringing a diverse range of speakers to Toronto, the world's most diverse city, we hope to build real and meaningful institutions and contribute together with others to both the local and global societies we live in."

RIS will be arranging interviews for members of the media with speakers before, during, and after the Convention. In addition the Convention provides excellent photo and video opportunities during prayer services, lectures, and other events for news and media outlets.